India's tourism sector is full of extraordinary possibilities: Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Monday highlighted the immense potential of Indias tourism sector claiming it surpasses that of any other country in the worldldquoWith over 5000 years of civilisational history 43 World Heritage Sites 56 potential World Heritage Sites and around 3500 monuments of national importance Indiarsquos cultural heritage stands as a testament to its global strengthrdquo the minister said while speaking at the lsquoEmbracing Diversity Promoting Inclusive Tourismrsquo session at Rising RajasthanHe also emphasised that the significance of tourism lies more in its cultural value than in its economic or business aspects He pointed out the importance of understanding the cultural elements that have shaped Indiarsquos identityHe also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modirsquos vision of lsquoVirasat Bhi Vikas Bhirsquo heritage and development has propelled the countryrsquos progress connecting Indias historical uniqueness with its modern achievementsThe minister attributed Indias position as the worlds fastestgrowing economy to its deeprooted cultural prideHe also discussed Indiarsquos remarkable progress in the tourism sector citing improvements such as a 150000 km road network the development of 500 new air routes the construction of 150 new airports and the introduction of highspeed trains like Vande BharatHe said that the completion of 100 tourism infrastructure projects has ushered in a new era of connectivity and ease of travel The success of the G20 presidency which spotlighted over 60 Indian destinations has also piqued global interest in the countryldquoAs a result Indias tourism sector generated 7617 million jobs up from 6956 million in 20132014 and foreign exchange earnings rose from 1969 billion in 2014 to 2807 billion in 2023 marking a 4253 per cent increaserdquo he saidHe also emphasised that the Ministry of Tourism is focused on developing tourism as a driver of sustainable inclusive economic growthKey initiatives include enhancing the overall tourist experience developing new destinations empowering individuals with tourism skills fostering private sector participation and creating favourable conditions in partnership with states and union territoriesShekhawat also highlighted Rajasthanrsquos exemplary role in the tourism sector noting that it contributes about 12 per cent to the statersquos GDP the highest in India Tourist arrivals in Rajasthan are expected to rise from 538 crore in 2019 to 1807 crore in 2023As part of the Golden Triangle Circuit Rajasthan attracts 35 per cent of Indiarsquos foreign tourists The state is home to nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is a top choice for lsquodestination weddingsrsquo and lsquoheritage and leisure tourismrsquoAdditionally Rajasthan boasts 68 per cent of Indiarsquos heritage hotels The statersquos tourism potential is further bolstered by the DelhiMumbai Industrial Corridor and the Dedicated Freight Corridor with significant portions in RajasthanShekhawat noted the growth in investment in the tourism and hospitality sectors in Rajasthan from 1689 crore in 201516 to 4847 crore in 202324 Rajasthan was the first state to grant industrial status to the tourism and hospitality sector a model now being adopted by other states and union territoriesThe Ministry of Tourism has also created a handbook for other states to replicate Rajasthans success Both the central and state governments are working collaboratively to make Rajasthan a major global destination as part of the statersquos Vision 2047The Union Minister affirmed that the Ministry of Tourism is committed to supporting Rajasthanrsquos tourism development and will continue to offer all necessary cooperation to ensure its growthAlso ReadReligious tourism driving residential demand in Tier 2 cities like Prayagraj Puri ReportThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever